Spirit Bear
Jennifer Harrington, Michael Arnott
language
(Eco Books 4 Kids, Feb. 3, 2014)
Spirit Bear follows the adventures of Annuk, a little spirit bear cub growing up in the Great Bear Rainforest of BC’s Northwest coast. Annuk learns what it means to be different when he discovers that he has a coat of white fur instead of black, like the rest of his family. He is a spirit bear, a rare and unique species found only in the Great Bear Rainforest. One day, while testing his fishing skills, he slips and falls into the river and is swept downstream, far from the safety of his mother. Alone and lost, Annuk makes an unlikely friend and encounters dangerous predators as he summons his courage and wits to find his way back to his family. Each of the 22 animals featured in the book has two profiles (for grades 1-2 and 3-4) comprised of facts about each animal’s habits, diet, and life-cycle. These profiles are available as free downloads from the Eco Books 4 Kids website as additional learning tools for both children and teachers. Harrington has also created a Teachers’ Package that is available for purchase from the Eco Books 4 Kids website. It includes an animated version of the book, a short educational video about the Great Bear Rainforest and a set of 46 printable worksheets and learning materials based on the free animal profiles. This cross-curricular package allows teachers to easily implement Spirit Bear into their lesson plans. An entertaining book with an educational element, great for teaching children about wildlife biology.